Total mercury in wild-grown higher mushrooms and underlying soil from Wdzydze Landscape Park, Northern Poland

Concentrations of mercury were determined in wild growing mushrooms (nine edible and 6 inedible species) and underlying soil (0–10 cm layer) substrate collected from Wdzydze Landscape Park in Northern Poland in 1995–1996. The analysis was performed using cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV–AAS) in 211 caps, 211 stalks and 211 soil samples. King Bolete (Boletus edulis), Cloudy Clitocybe (Lepista nebularis) and Orange Slime Court (Cortinarius mucosus) accumulated great concentrations of mercury and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of mercury in these species were between 560±510 and 180±160 in caps and between 310±190 and 77±64 in stalks. All other species examined, also accumulated mercury, but to lesser extent, with BCF values ranging from 3.9±2.1 to 69±12 in caps, and 1.0±0.4 and 38±7 in stalks. Cap to stalk concentration quotients for mercury were between 1.2±1.1 and 4.4±2.8. Mercury concentrations in underlying soil substrate were low between 2.7±1.2 and 37±5 ng/g dry weight, for 14 species, and 78±53 (18–170) ng/g dry weight for soil from which Sulfur Tuft (Hypoloma fasciculare) was collected. Among edible species, King Bolete showed a mean mercury concentration of up to 2600±2000 ng/g, dry weight, in caps and 1600±1200 ng/g in stalks. Mean mercury concentrations in other edible species were <400±200 in caps and <170±120 ng/g dry weight in stalks. Bare-toothed Brittle Gills (Russula vesca) had the lowest concentration of 45±26 ng/g and 30±18 ng/g dry weight, in caps and stalks, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was noted between mercury content in caps of Sandy Knight Cap (Tricholoma flavovirens; P<0.01), King Bolete (P<0.05) and soil mercury content, while a negative relationship was observed for Bay Bolete (Xerocomus badius; caps and stalks) and Sulfur Tuft (H. fasciculare; 0.01<P<0.05) concentrations.